Statutory Moderation and Assessment

Important information

‘Statutory key stage 1 and key stage 2 tests and teacher assessment planned for summer 2021, including key stage 2 tests in English reading and mathematics will not take place.’

 

 - Education Secretary Gavin Williamson 06/01/2021

 

Summary

Welcome to Slough’s statutory moderation and assessment.  

This area of the service ensures that Schools are aware of and can comply with the statutory assessment arrangements at each key stage. It also provides appropriate support and training for making accurate judgements.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) require that all schools, regardless of academy or maintained status, must have KS1 and KS2 assessments moderated and monitored by a Local Authority (LA) as a statutory requirement at least every four years.  These visits take place in May and June each year.

For more information please contact Jamie Hassan on jameel.hassan@slough.gov.uk

Next Network Session - Refining End of Key Stage Assessments

Date: 25th March 2021

Time: 16:00 - 17:30

Focus: Reading surgery session

Please be prepared for the session by:

Bringing evidence of reading or be prepared to talk about 2-3 children at this meeting. Teachers can talk about 2-3 children they would like to benchmark. Be prepared to share your possible evidence or talk about a child with a small group of colleagues and possibly a moderator.

For the link please contact : 

 

Next Network Session - Refining End of Key Stage Assessments

Date: Thursday 6th May 2021

Time: 16:00 - 17:30

Focus: Mathematics or greater depth writing

Please be prepared for the session by: Key stage 1

Bring evidence of mathematics or be prepared to talk about 2-3 children at this meeting. Teachers can talk about 2-3 children they would like to benchmark. Be prepared to share your possible evidence or talk about a child with a small group of colleagues and possibly a moderator.

The meeting will include:  

  • An outline of the maths criteria in detail
  • Teachers moving into break out rooms where they will be invited to share evidence of maths work completed for 2-3 children
  • A supportive discussion to help you identify the standard for that particular child
  • Opportunities during the discussion for you to share ideas about what your school is doing to support maths and close the gaps children may have

Please be prepared for the session by: Key stage 2

Evidence of greater depth for writing will be addressed through exemplification materials of 2-3 children. These will be discussed at this meeting. Be prepared to share your possible thoughts about the evidence for these children with a small group of colleagues.

The meeting will include:  

  • An outline of the greater depth writing criteria
  • Teachers moving into break out rooms where they will be invited to share the evidence of work for 2-3 children
  • A supportive discussion to help you identify the standard for that particular child
  • Opportunities during the discussion for you to share ideas about what your school is doing to support greater depth and close the gaps children may have

For the link please contact: 

Closing date 29th April

 

Next Network Session - Refining End of Key Stage Assessments

Date: Thursday 27th May 2021

Time: 16:00 - 17:30

Focus: Writing for all standards

Please be prepared for the session by: Key stage 1 and 2

Bring evidence of writing or be prepared to talk about 2-3 children from another school. Consider a range of ability from working towards to greater depth at this meeting. Teachers can talk about 2-3 children they would like to benchmark. Be prepared to share your possible evidence or talk about the children with a small group of colleagues.

For the link please contact: 

Closing date 20th May 2021

 

Updates for Assessment and Moderation 2020/21 Academic Year

Key stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Assessments

The national curriculum assessments due to be held in summer 2021, including tests, teacher assessments and the phonics screening check, have been cancelled.

Multiplication Tables Check

Schools can choose to administer the optional multiplication tables check within the 3-week period from Monday 7 June. Further guidance will be published in April 2021.

Reception Baseline Assessment 2021/22 Academic Year

Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first six weeks after they enter reception.

Key Stage 1

 

Date Activity
May 2022 Key stage 1 test period
Week commencing Monday 6 June 2022 Phonics screening check week

 

Key Stage 2

The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 9 May to Thursday 12 May 2022.

Optional Multiplication Tables Check

The June 2021 multiplication tables check (MTC) is optional for schools who choose to administer the check to some or all of their year 4 pupils.

Schools can now access MTC service through DfE Sign-in to:

  • Check their pupil register and ensure all participating pupils are included
  • Allow pupils to use the try it out check to familiarise themselves with the format and see if access arrangements meet their needs
  • Record any pupils who will not take the check

Approvers within DfE Sign-in may wish to give other school staff access to the MTC service. For further information on creating an account and managing users, please see the DfE Sign-in guidance. 

The DfE have published the administration guidance and a video to support participating schools.

The MTC administration window is from Monday 8 June to Friday 25 June. The DfE advises schools to administer the check within the first 2 weeks. The final week can be for pupils who were absent or in case of any delays to administration.

Links to Documents

Please see below list of documents useful to schools and academies involved in assessment and moderation.

Primary and Post Primary Assessment and Moderation | Implementation Evaluation and Plan 2018 (See below attachments).

Key Stage 1 Documents

Key Stage 1 Exemplification Materials

English Reading

Mathematics

Writing

Science

Key Stage 2 Documents

Key Stage 2 Exemplification Materials

Writing

Science

 

How is this service funded

The core service is centrally funded for Slough maintained schools.

Academies, free Schools and independent Schools will be charged for this service.  In the Autumn term a letter will be sent to these schools.  this letter needs to be signed and agreed, should they wish to be a part of Slough's assessment and moderation procedures.  It will outline the charges for this service.

 

Who is this service for

All schools and academies are subject to formal moderation arrangements at least once in any four year period. Some schools will be moderated more frequently as moderation remains a key tool to support teachers and schools to be sure that standards are in line with national expectations.  These visits will take place in June each year. 

Further details of service

Moderation Process  

Academies and Free Schools must comply with statutory requirements for key stage 1 assessment. Schools must respond to STA communication in the autumn term, to confirm to STA which LA they wish to conduct moderation visits for each key stage. At least 25% of maintained schools and academies must be moderated each year.  Academies will be charged by the LA. Academies must provide their selected LA with proof of their most recent moderation visit and the outcome. 

If an Independent School wishes to submit its results for the national summary of results it must employ an LA and take part in their moderation process - moderated in the first year it participates and then at least once in every four year cycle. 

"I really appreciated their support and learnt a lot from the experience."

 

- KS1 Teacher

Schools are required to submit accurate teacher assessment data to the DfE each year.  This year data must be submitted by Thursday 25th June 2020. 

Schools that are selected for inclusion in statutory moderation arrangements will be notified on Friday 15th May 2020. In Slough, the window for moderation visits is Tuesday 2nd June 2020 to Friday 19th June 2020. From the 22nd June to 24th June schools could be re-moderated or be subject to part of the appeals process. Each school selected for moderation will receive a visit by members of the KS1 or KS2 moderation team. 

All moderators used have successfully completed this years standardization exercise as required by the STA (Standards and Testing Agency).   They will all be qualified teachers.

In 2019/2020 the moderation process will focus on outcomes for reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 1. At Key Stage 2 the focus will be on outcomes for writing. Teachers will be asked to provide evidence to support teacher assessment judgements made for a sample of pupils in each teaching group with year 2 or year 6 pupils. Pupils will be selected randomly from information provided to the moderators the day before, if data has been shared with moderators early, by local agreement. 

"The experience was very helpful with moderators and staff engaging in very positive communication."

 

 - KS2 Headteacher

Full details of the STA Moderation process and requirements, along with the Sloughs Moderation Arrangements can be found in the local authority handbook, which will be available on this website soon.

Testing Arrangements 

For KS1

Schools must administer the KS1 tests in English reading and mathematics during May 2020.  The tests do not have set days for their administration, and they may be administered to groups of pupils on different days.

For KS2

In 2019/2020 all schools are required to administer tests (11th May - 14th May 2020) in grammar punctuation and spelling, reading and mathematics during May. The test materials will be delivered to schools between Monday 27th April 2020 to Friday 1st May 2020. Test materials are subject to storage and security requirements. Materials are subject to secure storage requirements from the date of delivery until June. STA outline security of test material requirements in the 2020 ARA document. Schools should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place. 

In 2019/2020 the local authority is required to visit a minimum of 10% of schools, academies and independent schools if they are taking part in the tests, to complete administration and security checks. All advisers completing monitoring and security checks are DBS checked.    

For KS2 | Multiplications Table Check (MTC)

From the 2019/2020 academic year, the multiplication tables check (MTC) is statutory for all year 4 pupils registered at state-funded maintained schools, special schools or academies (including free schools) in England.  The MTC is an online assessment, designed to determine whether pupils are able to fluently recall their multiplication tables up to 12.  The check window opens on Monday 8 June for a 3-week period.  All participating pupils must complete the check in this 3 week period.

Phonics Screening Check 

The phonics screening check is a short, light-touch assessment to confirm whether individual children have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by their school to improve their reading skills.   It must be administered between Monday 8th June to Friday 15th June 2020.

If the child is absent, then it can be administered between Monday 15th June 2020 to Friday 19th June 2020.

As with KS1 and KS2 test administration the Phonics Screening check is subject to STA security and administration requirements as detailed in the assessment and reporting arrangements handbook and all specific handbooks and guidance. 

The LA has a statutory duty to perform unannounced visits.  These are made to 10% of schools and academies before, during or after the check period in June.  This is to ensure schools have robust procedures in place to maintain the integrity of the checks.

Document downloads
Administering the Phonics Screening Check to Year 2 Pupils in the 2020 Autumn Term.pdf
Slough Moderation Handbook 2019_20KS1.pdf
Slough Moderation Handbook 2019_20 KS2.pdf
Assessment and Moderation Letter 2019-20.pdf
Slough Primary and Post Primary Assessment and Moderation Implementation Evaluation and Plan 2019 to 2020.pdf
KS1 Moderation Grids19_20.pdf
KS2 Moderation Grids19_20.pdf